Acta Deceptio: What Makes Great Playing Cards?

[Lyle Borders]

While browsing through the many new posts in the forums today, I ran across this thread - People Are Addicted to Cards Now? Playing cards have been a big hype ever since I got back into magic several years ago. There seems to be no end to the stream of new cards. I would know. I lost count of the number of decks I own at 300. I am in the process of building an extremely nice (and rather expensive) storage unit for my playing cards (that is a subject for another day.) I have a lot, but why?

The discussion tonight - What makes great playing cards? Is it the design? Technical specs? Colors? Is collecting playing cards worth it? Can you justify spending $5+ on a small box full of colored paper? As always, the sky is the limit on this one. I want to know if you think I am crazy for a 300+ card collection, or if you think I don't have nearly enough cards.

Is there a right answer?

L

 

[James Wise Magic]

As cardmen we are drawn to what we use: cards. Makes sense that we would buy several. It's the same as a guitar player buy crap loads of guitars or why a car collector buys several cars.

 

[RickEverhart]

I guess I am one of the people that thinks it is crazy to have that many decks because there are so many other props and items needed in magic that I spend my money on. Recent purchases for me have been a $600 gig case, 2 Jet Sets with Curtains, Happy Amp with Mic, etc.

Had I bought tons of decks of cards I would never of had the items necessary for my shows.

Now...I do see the benefits of card collecting even though I choose not to. For example: for resale later in which you are hoping to gain cash down the road and double or triple your money. Also it is nice to have decks to use 20 years from now that are no longer being printed and people will be like, "Whoa...where did you get those? Those cards are unreal...blah blah.

As a Con I would say that the average layman may not give a crap about walking into a magician's home and seeing 300+ decks in cello. I also feel that the decks need to be used for the intended purpose of entertaining whether that be a card game or magic.

What draws some of us to these cards? I believe it is a lot of things. Some of us really enjoy certain colors. For me it is BLUE. Because I like BLUE i own many blue dress shirts, blue pens for at work, blue playing cards, etc. You get the picture.

For others it is the design. Some of us like plain and simple and others prefer intricate work like the Split Spades.
For others it is the stock. I used to be addicted to really thick stock and only bought Master's Decks for awhile. I truly believed they helped me "feel" double lifts compared to standard decks.

Oh well. That's my two cents.

 

[S.G]

You also have to think of the flourishing aspect of cards now. There are lots of cardists and they buy decks for their performance, whether for fanning, or otherwise. While some magicians can get buy with just regular decks of Bikes, flourishers like to have a variety to use in their performances.

Maybe I am wrong, but that is how I see the majority of people.

 

[CaseyRudd]

I don't have as many as Lyle, however I'm on my way to hitting the 200 mark - I lost count. I think it's awesome to collect playing cards. When I have my own kids one of these days, I can give them a deck of cards from my collection to play with. As a kid myself I always played cards with my family when I was 5 - 10; Crazy Eights, Go Fish, etc. I also have a lot because I won't need to buy many later. I have tons of new unopened decks of cards that are saved for a later day. It just all comes down to personal preference.

 

[starthelegend]

Card collecting is the same as collecting anything else like stamps (or a strange friend of mine who collects cans, don't ask). They just do it because they enjoy collecting things, and for a magician who enjoys collecting things, cards are the ideal choice because most aren't all that expensive and whats usually the first thing someone asks when they see someone fiddling with a packet of cards? "Hey know any tricks?" As for what makes a great deck of playing cards that's pretty simple. Stock, finish, and design and when the correct combination is designed you sir have yourself a superb deck of playing cards.

 

[eostresh]

Anyone who knows me knows I could probably write a book on this topic. Lol

I'll keep it brief though. The beauty of falling in love with cards is that it opens your eyes to different styles of card magic and flourishing. In that sense the meat an potatoes(what makes the card work) like the thickness, stock stiffness, finish, and cutting standards of the card is the big deal. What's the point of a pretty deck if it only lasts a week? Or if it doesn't handle right? But what makes that different for everyone is what you like to do. Some people do mostly in the hands stuff and some guys are into tabled work. Some guys have strong hands and some guys have weaker hands. Some guys have a soft style and some an aggressive style. Even in flourishing the style will lead you to the right deck. Some guys are heavy into the fans, spreads, dribbles, and springs and others are into one handed cuts, multi-packet cuts, and aerials. Different decks give slight advantages for all these styles and interests and an interest in cards may lead to an interest in expanding your repertoire of style, sleights, flourishes. Conversely, a broad interest in card magic and cardistry may lead to an interest in experimenting with different cards.

That all said, the look of the card does play a big role for many and that shouldn't be dismissed either. Especially in cardistry, different back designs can give a totally different look to a flourish. But even in magic different designs can either work with, or against, the character you are presenting. A guys who wants to look "Impromptu" might want to use a simple ordinary Rider back but at the same time, a guy who dresses sharp and performs for an upscale clientele might want to think twice about using the venerable rider back as it would be kind of like wearing a Casio watch with a three piece suit.

Ultimately, its all good. We live in a world that offers us 32 flavors of ice creme and a bazillion different apps for our cell phone so I see no compelling reason that card lovers should be excluded from those choices. People watch magic for fun and others perform magic for fun so as long as you have fun with your cards no harm is done.

 

[Lyle Borders]

Well said Eostresh. I personally buy playing cards simply to try them. It is like when I am in line buying something at the store and I see a new variety of candy. I buy it simply so that I know what it is like. Nobody can really communicate to someone else exactly how a deck feels without putting it in their hands.

Do you agree?

L

 

[eostresh]

Well said Eostresh. I personally buy playing cards simply to try them. It is like when I am in line buying something at the store and I see a new variety of candy. I buy it simply so that I know what it is like. Nobody can really communicate to someone else exactly how a deck feels without putting it in their hands.

Do you agree?

L

I agree completely. That's why after 2 years of going through great pains to ensure I offer detailed and comprehensive card reviews I have come to the conclusion that the best way to describe a card to someone who hasn't ever tried it before if to find out other cards that they do know and tell them how similar it is. Of course that doesn't really help the beginners who haven't tried much besides a Bike. Also, there are just some cards that are better and it is really, REALY, hard to put your finger on why. Aristocrats vs. Richard Turner Gold seals. They are just as stiff, just as thick, and (at least for recent cards printed on Aristocrat stock) both have a traditional cut, yet somehow the RT Gold seals perform better. I have no clue why??? It certainly isn't the looks because I prefer the looks of all the Aristocrat cards I have used(Bank Note, Stinger, EATCT) to the Rider back used on the RT golds. The Golds are just a better card. And as I say that I realize there is probably someone out there who feels the exact opposite. Just the way it goes.

Example: I know you and I disagree on Massas. You like them, I don't. Yet I have read you review and feel that it is a very accurate description. That's just the way it is sometimes. That is why people eventually need to just start trying them out for themselves. It makes no sense saying, "I don't like Rocky Road Ice Creme" when you never bothered to try it.